Re: [Harp-L] A good harp to replace a marine band after 45 years??

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

Thing is, many out-of-the-box harmonicas today cost as much as 
customized harp. IN fact, many of the models are offered nowadays in 
response to the custom market. Check out the Hohner custom shop or the 
Seydel custom shop.

Also, the try-it-you-buy-it technique does not require sampling every 
model on the market. Just until you find one you like. Over the years 
I've tried/purchased several models of different brands. That is why I 
have several models of C harmonicas. I wanted to try them out. Some I 
like better than others. Some I bought because they were favored by 
certain players. Charlie Musselwhite has played Hohners, Herrings and 
now Seydels.

Madcat used to play Huangs. I think I purchased mine at SPAH before I 
found out that Madcat played them. In about every case, I bought a C 
harp and if I liked the way it played, I bought more keys. And since I 
teach a Harmonica 101 class for which I provide an entry level 
harmonica and a text book, I've checked out at least four brands of 
entry harps. They worked for the several weeks of the class and I never 
had any complaints from students. That is why I recommend the Hohner 
Bluesband kit of 7 harps in a case for about $30. It gives you an 
opportunity to try 7 different keys -- high and low pitches all play 
differently -- and if you don't like the harps, you can toss them and 
keep the nice zippered case.

Hope this helps -- even if this wasn't your question.

Phil


-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Sherman <shermfam@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Jun 29, 2015 1:36 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] A good harp to replace a marine band after 45 
years??

Also, one has the opportunity to play several guitars before committing 
to buy. The same model from the same builder can feel quite different 
from its brother or sister.

I would say that about 20% of the harmonicas I've bought have been 
lacking. At this point I'm only buying customized harps.

Kathy Sherman
(Guitar, banjo and harmonica -- among other things)


> On Jun 29, 2015, at 05:49, Michelle LeFree 
<mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Richard Hunter wrote:
>
> > Bob Cohen wrote:
> > <...the cost [of harmonicas] is cheap compared to most instruments, 
even with trial and error.
> > I dunno.  That used to be true.  Now?  On a recent trip, I left my 
road case--the Seydel case with 18 harps in it--in a bar.  I retrieved 
it the next day with all contents intact, but that gave me the 
opportunity to reflect that there was something in the neighborhood of 
$900 worth of harmonicas in that case.  If I was gigging regularly with 
it, I might have to replace half or more of the contents of that case 
every year.
> > Guitarists pay hundreds of dollars upfront for an instrument, but 
they don't have to replace the thing every year. Amps and FX cost the 
same for a harmonica player as for a guitarist.
> > So is harmonica cheaper?  At a unit level, yes--a harmonica costs 
less than a guitar.  For anyone who plays frequently and in public, 
over the course of a year or a lifetime, maybe not.
> One BIG difference between fine harmonicas and guitars -- a fine 
guitar will sound better and be worth more over time. Over the course 
of a lifetime a well-cared for Martin guitar could become a handsome 
nest egg for your retirement.
> Michelle